Dual-energy computed tomography for head and neck cancer: a literature review

The article provides a review of publications by the diagnosis of head and neck cancer using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data were obtained by the DECT method with intravenous contrast enhancement for tumors of this localization, shows the importance of constructing iodine maps for obtaining additional diagnostic information. Including the article is described aspects of improving visualization of the oropharyngeal region against the background of artifacts from dental implants. A number of research articles highlight the current state of the issue and the role of post-processing of raw data DECT, obtaining a range of monochromatic images of tumor and other pathological changes in the head and neck region in the article. Several learned treatises were also reflected, in which DECT with intravenous contrast enhancement and routine computed tomography in terms of reducing radiation exposure to patients were compared, in particular, due to possibility of obtaining virtual native diagnostic images from a contrast series of DECT volumes during post-processing. This review, in addition to latest relevant scientific data, also includes references to works, that highlight the history of the development of DECT as the method. The physical principles underlying DECT and the prospects for the development of the method are briefly represented.